How long to study for each class?

We may have a problem with the online classes.  Already. 

As homeschoolers my kids have spent 1 hour a day 4 or 5 days per week on most classes.  They have spent 90 minutes a day without fail on math and foreign language.  So that is no more than 4 to 7.5 hours per class weekly.  This is true whether they are studying someone at home, or in a local class.

The online classes they are taking through the county is recommending 12-20 hours a week per online class.  (I am pretty sure that's what they said during the orientation chat) That's just crazy.  Weekly, this would be almost 2 1/2 hours a day to 4 hours a day per class.  Multiply that by 5 classes (which my kids are not taking) and that could take 12 1/2 to 20 hours a day.  So much for having a life or sleeping.

I think they are seriously over stating the time it takes to study the material and pass the tests. I am hoping that this is a loose recommendation, and not a requirement.  I will find out.

  Fortunately with my son taking only 2 classes per semester and my daughter taking 1 class per semester, they will still have time for other endeavors.  I am recommending they are signed in to their accounts for the minimum amount of recommended hours per week.  As they are only available to do online school 4 days during the week, I will probably get them to so a weekend session.  My kids have already resisted homeschooling on the weekend.... but college is coming up fast.  They are going to have to get used to studying daily.

update:  Did some quick research.  On the college level "Generally, the rule of thumb is that you should study approximately 2 hours for every one hour of classroom time. For example, if you spend 4 hours a week in a particular class, then you should spend 8 hours studying and doing homework."  http://news.everest.edu/post/2008/03/study-hours  The low-end recommendation for these high school courses are pretty close to what is recommended to pass a college course.  So if a public school would spend 5 hours a week in class and then do 10 hours a week in homework for that class, they can expect to do very well.  Since my kids are in highschool, I am going to recommend to them that they spend the minimum 12 hours per class (especially since they are hard classes I cannot teach at home) and re-evaluate it as we go along.  


Bottom line, I wouldn't recommend any homeschooler take a full load of 4 - 5 classes.  There would truly be not time for sleep. 




So my question is, how much time do you spend studying each day... at the high school level? I'd like to hear from public school families too.


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